In the two decades since Mean Girls' initial release, the teen comedy has become more than just a movie: it's a wellspring of unforgettable quotes, which have inspired countless memes and even entered the lexicon.
Written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, the 2004 comedy has shaped the way we see the world: from the date that's become associated with it to the mere concept that a day of the week could be associated with a colour, it's hard of think of a movie that has inspired more comedic catchphrases than Mean Girls.
In 2017, Mean Girls became a Broadway musical — a beloved production that was nominated for a whopping 12 Tony Awards, while Tina Fey's book won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. The songs were written by Jeff Richmond (a prolific film and TV composer who just so happens to be married to Tina Fey) with lyrics by Nell Benjamin (who previously composed for Legally Blonde: The Musical).
Arriving in theatres on January 12 through Paramount Pictures, the 2024 Mean Girls is a fresh, fun comedy that brings the classic story back to the screen with new twists for modern audiences and with the perfect amount of nostalgia for fans of the original. Here, we're looking back on some of the quotes from the original film that have entered the lexicon. As the new film pushes Mean Girls' legacy forward, who knows which quotes from the film will spread and become ubiquitous quotes.
"It's October 3rd."
Let's start with the most innocuous quote of all, when Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) asks Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) the date, and she tells him. The line is so plainspoken and the repetition is so memorable that it's become one of the most enduring lines from Mean Girls. Much like Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends" or *NSYNC's "It's Gonna Be Me" (a.k.a. "it's gonna be May"), it's become one of those date-related memes that fans post about every year. October 3 has even been declared Mean Girls Day.
"On Wednesdays, we wear pink."
This rule of the Plastics, as explained by Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried), is the perfect quote to pull out whenever you're wearing pink — or whenever it's Wednesday. It's also worth citing any time you encounter an arbitrary and exclusionary rule.
"Get in loser, we're going shopping."
Going literally anywhere? Asking a friend if they want to come with you? This Regina George (Rachel McAdams) quote is your go-to. Rap duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids even quoted this line in the chorus of their recent single, the fall's "I Got Paid Today."
"Grool."
For when something is both great and cool, nothing gets the point across better than Cady's accidental portmanteau, which perfectly conveys the silly things we say when a crush makes us nervous.
"I'm not like a regular mom. I'm a cool mom!"
Amy Poehler delivers an unforgettable performance as Regina George's mom, who is desperate for approval and just wants to be one of the girls. I relate to it because I'm not like a regular journalist — I'm a cool journalist!
"She doesn't even go here!"
As the girls of North Shore High School take the stage one by one to make amends, Damian (Daniel Franzese) calls out someone who wants to "bake a cake made out of rainbows and smiles," revealing that she doesn't even go to the school. It's an evergreen quote for whenever we encounter a classmate or coworker we don't recognize — which frankly happens more than I'd like to admit. I mean, who even is Kaelen Bell?
"Is your muffin buttered? Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?"
Jason, why are you such a skeeze? When Jason (Daniel DeSanto) approaches the new kid in school and asks if her muffin is buttered, it could have easily been a throwaway line. But, thanks to Wet Leg and their unforgettable 2021 hit "Chaise Longue," which directly quotes it, it has suddenly become one of the film's many standout quotes.
"Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Regina George's arrogance has become the perfect comeback to the haters. Mariah Carey uses it in her 2009 song "Obsessed," and Hillary Clinton even used it to burn Trump in a massively viral tweet in 2019.
"Stop trying to make fetch happen."
"That's so fetch!" Embodying the creative and influential spirit of her father, Toaster Strudels heiress Gretchen Wieners is desperately trying to turn "fetch" into a popular catchphrase. She's humiliated when Regina George shuts her down and tells her, "It's not going to happen." Ironically, Gretchen got the last laugh — because, thanks to the success of Mean Girls, fetch definitely happened.
Now, check out the new Mean Girls trailer below to find your best phrase.
Written by Tina Fey and directed by Mark Waters, the 2004 comedy has shaped the way we see the world: from the date that's become associated with it to the mere concept that a day of the week could be associated with a colour, it's hard of think of a movie that has inspired more comedic catchphrases than Mean Girls.
In 2017, Mean Girls became a Broadway musical — a beloved production that was nominated for a whopping 12 Tony Awards, while Tina Fey's book won a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. The songs were written by Jeff Richmond (a prolific film and TV composer who just so happens to be married to Tina Fey) with lyrics by Nell Benjamin (who previously composed for Legally Blonde: The Musical).
Arriving in theatres on January 12 through Paramount Pictures, the 2024 Mean Girls is a fresh, fun comedy that brings the classic story back to the screen with new twists for modern audiences and with the perfect amount of nostalgia for fans of the original. Here, we're looking back on some of the quotes from the original film that have entered the lexicon. As the new film pushes Mean Girls' legacy forward, who knows which quotes from the film will spread and become ubiquitous quotes.
"It's October 3rd."
Let's start with the most innocuous quote of all, when Aaron Samuels (Jonathan Bennett) asks Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) the date, and she tells him. The line is so plainspoken and the repetition is so memorable that it's become one of the most enduring lines from Mean Girls. Much like Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends" or *NSYNC's "It's Gonna Be Me" (a.k.a. "it's gonna be May"), it's become one of those date-related memes that fans post about every year. October 3 has even been declared Mean Girls Day.
"On Wednesdays, we wear pink."
This rule of the Plastics, as explained by Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried), is the perfect quote to pull out whenever you're wearing pink — or whenever it's Wednesday. It's also worth citing any time you encounter an arbitrary and exclusionary rule.
"Get in loser, we're going shopping."
Going literally anywhere? Asking a friend if they want to come with you? This Regina George (Rachel McAdams) quote is your go-to. Rap duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids even quoted this line in the chorus of their recent single, the fall's "I Got Paid Today."
"Grool."
For when something is both great and cool, nothing gets the point across better than Cady's accidental portmanteau, which perfectly conveys the silly things we say when a crush makes us nervous.
"I'm not like a regular mom. I'm a cool mom!"
Amy Poehler delivers an unforgettable performance as Regina George's mom, who is desperate for approval and just wants to be one of the girls. I relate to it because I'm not like a regular journalist — I'm a cool journalist!
"She doesn't even go here!"
As the girls of North Shore High School take the stage one by one to make amends, Damian (Daniel Franzese) calls out someone who wants to "bake a cake made out of rainbows and smiles," revealing that she doesn't even go to the school. It's an evergreen quote for whenever we encounter a classmate or coworker we don't recognize — which frankly happens more than I'd like to admit. I mean, who even is Kaelen Bell?
"Is your muffin buttered? Would you like us to assign someone to butter your muffin?"
Jason, why are you such a skeeze? When Jason (Daniel DeSanto) approaches the new kid in school and asks if her muffin is buttered, it could have easily been a throwaway line. But, thanks to Wet Leg and their unforgettable 2021 hit "Chaise Longue," which directly quotes it, it has suddenly become one of the film's many standout quotes.
"Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Regina George's arrogance has become the perfect comeback to the haters. Mariah Carey uses it in her 2009 song "Obsessed," and Hillary Clinton even used it to burn Trump in a massively viral tweet in 2019.
"Stop trying to make fetch happen."
"That's so fetch!" Embodying the creative and influential spirit of her father, Toaster Strudels heiress Gretchen Wieners is desperately trying to turn "fetch" into a popular catchphrase. She's humiliated when Regina George shuts her down and tells her, "It's not going to happen." Ironically, Gretchen got the last laugh — because, thanks to the success of Mean Girls, fetch definitely happened.
Now, check out the new Mean Girls trailer below to find your best phrase.
